President seeks inclusion of men in Agenda activities

By Jane
R. Elgass

President James J. Duderstadt is as eager to get
suggestions and recommendations as he is to answer questions about the
Michigan Agenda for Women and wants input now on how to make activities in
the second year of the effort more inclusive.

"This effort draws
its strengths from the grassroots," he told those attending an Academic
Women's Caucus-sponsored forum last Wednesday. "A year ago we set out
broad goals and some specific steps, really a rough framing. After a year
of dialogue, it's clear we have to expand the effort, make it more
inclusive."

By more inclusive he means including men in the ongoing
dialogue.

"I get questions, mostly from men. What's the problem?
Why the effort? Why take such visible action? We must broaden the dialogue
and raise the consciousness of the University at large," the president
said. "Once more people are educated about the importance of this effort,
they will understand that the changes will benefit us all. How to
structure this next step is the question we face now and I'm interested in
your input."

Duderstadt cited several instances in which men have
successfully been brought into the dialogue.

The dean and most of
the department chairs--all men--in the College of Engineering attended a
forum the president held with women students. The women cited many
instances of sexual harassment stemming from increased competition for
grant funds and employment opportunities. "This testimony in front of the
dean and chairs really had an impact," the president said.

Following a forum with graduate students who identified some challenges
unique to their position, the students met with the executive board of the
Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies, primarily males. Once the
problems were identified, Duderstadt said, "there was a rapid sense of
awareness that things had to change. The board has shifted its stance to
address these issues."

The president also had a positive experience
in a meeting with male and female residence hall assistants. "As the women
talked, it captured the attention of the men," he said, "and an animated
dialogue took off. It can be done."

Responding to audience
questions, Duderstadt commented on the affirmative action backlash,
saying, "It's most unfortunate, but we can't return to an earlier time.
Universities have to stand up and be counted on this issue as a force in
society. I am less concerned about legislation than I am about litigation.
There will be more and more court tests. We are doing everything we can to
ensure protection of our programs," including the retention of a
Washington, D.C., expert in this area.

"The University has come too
far to slide back," Duderstadt said. "We're big, we're visible, we're a
national leader. We'll be a target."

Commenting on the issue of
career paths for those holding lecturer and clinical appointments, the
president said an umbrella commission, supported by his office and the
Office of the Provost, will be appointed next fall, with subgroups in each
unit. They will guide discussion on the definition of "faculty" in
general, along with considerations unique to certain schools.

He
noted that mentoring also is a serious concern, particularly in the
sciences.

"We have to focus our strategies to meet the special
needs of the units," he said, "and create a combination of strategies that
include consciousness-raising and carrot-stick approaches to incentives
for action."

The president noted that there have been instances in
which faculty hiring requests have been held up until the units could
demonstrate that they drew from a large enough pool.

He said the
University also is reinstituting the process of a mid-search check on the
diversity of the candidate pool before a committee is allowed to go to the
short list. "This will ensure consideration of women and minorities who
are viable candidates."

Duderstadt told the audience that meetings
such as this are not the only opportunity for discussion. "You can talk to
others-- Jayne Thorson, Carol Hollenshead, Susan Lipschutz." He also
encouraged e-mail correspondence in "perfect privacy. I'm the only person
who reads it and lots of ideas have come to me that way. The only way this
works is to empower the entire community. I'm a device to use to make the
move ahead."

On his commitment to educate the University community,
the president noted that "universities are learning communities. Plus we
have to make it clear that these are permanent changes. 'This too shall
pass' doesn't apply. We have to change ourselves or be changed by the
world outside."